Amit Mishra credits Virat Kohli for positive environment in team

Amit Mishra was in fine form at the IPL

Amit Mishra had an amazing day as he managed to pick up four wickets on the Warner Park pitch in the practice match held against West Indies President’s XI. When he was asked how he managed this feat, teammate Rohit Sharma jumped in the conversation and said: “You can’t do anything on a track like that.”

This is also Anil Kumble’s first match as coach after he was announced as the head coach for the Indian national cricket team, pipping Ravi Shastri to the job.

The bowler had an impressive showing as he managed to end the longstanding 122-run partnership between Rajendra Chandrika and Shai Hope. It is pretty excellent as he played under really taxing conditions, ending the day with a figure of 27-5-67-4.

In an interview with the BCCI TV, he was asked how he bowled, considering the fact that there was no assistance for the bowler. He said: “I am happy with my performance as bowling on this track was very difficult. To get my bowling rhythm back on a slow batting track is a good sign. We had a good practice game as we had batted well yesterday and also bowled well today (Sunday).”

He was asked if he made changes for the hot conditions, he replied: “I was trying to vary my speed and was looking to ‘confuse’ the batsmen. I didn’t want them to know at what speed I was bowling. I was also mixing up my deliveries; bowling straighter ones in between and turning the rest. I am very happy that on a slow wicket I could dismiss four batsmen.”

When the bowler was asked if he will be seen using the seam-up kind of delivery that he used in the IPL, he replied: “Definitely. If there is a need to try that out, I will not hesitate. Test cricket is very different from limited overs, so If feel I may not be required to bowl that kind of a delivery.”

He was also asked how much of a confidence booster it is to have captain Virat Kohli’s backing, to which he replied: “Virat Kohli is a positive person and he has created a similar positive environment within the team. He always supports me. There are no boundaries. Whenever I want to share something with him, I am free to express my opinion. He tells me, “You’re a wicket taking bowler and that is what you must do. You stay positive and stick to your strengths. Do not think about anything else”.”

Virat Kohli succeeded Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the test captain, following his retirement from Test Cricket. What’s interesting is that before MS Dhoni was named Test captain, Anil Kumble was the captain of the Test team, showing how Anil Kumble became captain to coach.